Chapter 222 I will not back down
Chapter 222 I will not back down
After that disastrous meeting with her father, Sylvia pretty much stayed inside her chamber for the next few weeks. She hardly came out, and she didn't speak much either.
Though she had lost in that courtroom, and the King had even asked her never to bring up this topic again, she still was not close to giving up on the idea. Not a chance.
The incident left Sylvia feeling deflated. She had been so sure that her father would see the logic in her argument and support her in her cause, but he had shut her down completely.
Despite this, Sylvia remained determined to pursue her goal. She knew that her father was set in his ways and unlikely to change his mind, but that didn't mean she was going to give up without a fight.
Over the course of the next few weeks, she spent countless hours researching, strategizing, and planning her next move.
Even Grandpa Akhekh visited her a couple of times about this matter. The old dragon seemed very skeptical in the beginning, but after talking to her, he quickly changed sides. Was this because he really believed in the idea, or was it because he simply wanted to appease his granddaughter, no one knew.
However, Sylvia knew that her grandfather's words wouldn't mean much, especially in this issue. It would be the word of her father, Frederick Akhekh, that would hold the final say.
But that didn't mean that all was lost. Sylvia already had a plan. She knew exactly where and when to ask him about this again.
A few more weeks passed by, and the opportunistic day arrived. In the same spot, in the ancestral temple, many clan elders of the various beast clans arrived promptly for the next meeting.
Sylvia had spent hours preparing for this moment. She had carefully selected her outfit, choosing a deep crimson dress that accentuated her curves and complemented her silver hair. She had practiced her speech countless times, perfecting every inflection and gesture until it felt natural.
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And finally, on the day of the clan meeting, standing among the clan elders was the newly accepted dragon princess, Sylvia. As she entered the temple, she held her head high and walked with purpose, radiating confidence and determination.
Her presence sent a quiet uproar, but no one dared to say anything as the King had already arrived. Everyone politely greeted the King and the princess, and the meeting finally began.
The meeting at first started smoothly, and various elders brought up some issues, which were quickly addressed. Most of these were already brought to the attention of King Frederick, so he had already started working on them. Things went on without a single hitch.
But this was only until a certain someone opened her mouth. Sylvia suddenly stepped forward as her turn arrived. Everyone looked at the mesmerizing woman in shock, as they had not expected the daughter of the ruling King to talk about something in the clan meeting.
Isaac, one of the younger wolves, leaned over to Roman, the wolf clan leader, and whispered, "What is she doing? Doesn't she know anything about our clans?" Roman grimaced. He could see the determination in her eyes and knew that she had a plan.
For someone who was so silent all the time and mostly kept to herself without participating in any of the Kingdom's festivities, the princess was surprisingly headstrong when she needed to be.
Just like Roman, several others also looked at the young dragon princess curiously, wondering what she was going to talk about. Every single person's attention at the moment was on her, and that included the King.
Sylvia could feel the burning gaze of her father locked onto her. But she did not waver in the slightest.
"Speak up." Frederick Akhekh curtly spoke as his face twitched. He already had a bad feeling about this.
And just like he was afraid, his silver-haired daughter, who could drive countless men crazy, opened her mouth with a small polite smile.
"I would like to talk about establishing a peace treaty with the humans."
Frederick Akhekh narrowed his eyes and looked at the girl coldly. She had done it. She had actually dared to raise this damned topic one more time and too in front of the entire clan!
And just like he feared… Her words instantly sent the whole group into chaos and commotion. Everyone started busily discussing amongst themselves in hushed voices.
Their gazes ever so often flickered toward Sylvia and then looked away. This was a taboo topic, and the princess herself had raised it! So the whole place burst into discussions!
Sylvia remained calm despite the chaos that erupted around her. She stood tall and composed, her gaze unwavering as she waited for her father's response.
Frederick Akhekh was fuming inside. He had expressly forbidden Sylvia from bringing up the idea of a peace treaty with the humans ever again. And yet here she was, defying his authority and bringing it up in front of the entire clan.
He glared at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I thought I made myself clear the last time, Sylvia. We will not entertain the idea of a peace treaty with humans. They are our enemies, and we will treat them as such."
Sylvia's expression did not falter. "With all due respect, father, I disagree. Humans are not our enemies. They are simply another species like us. And I believe that we can coexist peacefully with them."
The gathered elders fell silent as everyone waited for Frederick's response. The tension was palpable, and everyone could sense the anger emanating from the king.
"You are naive, Sylvia," he finally spat out. "The humans have always been our enemies. They have killed our kind and destroyed our homes. And yet you still believe that we can coexist with them? It is nothing but a foolish dream."
Sylvia's face remained calm, but her eyes shone with determination. "I understand that there has been conflict between our two species in the past, but that doesn't mean we should give up hope for peace. We are stronger when we work together, and I believe that a peace treaty is the first step towards a brighter future."
The elders erupted into discussion once again, with some agreeing with Sylvia's words and others vehemently opposing them. The tension in the air was thick, and it was clear that this was a topic that would not be easily resolved.
Sylvia stood her ground, her eyes fixed on her father. She knew that this was only the beginning of a long and difficult journey, but she was determined to see it through. She would do whatever it took to bring about peace between their two species, even if it meant going against her own family.
Frederick Akhekh looked at his daughter with a mix of anger and disappointment. Why was she being so stubborn? He knew that the result of this could be disastrous, so he was also not ready to budge.
The father and daughter pair glared at each other, neither side willing to give up. Roman saw this, and he had a strange feeling. For some reason, he was extremely uneasy. This was simply a recipe for disaster, a situation that one of the old foxes could take advantage of!
And just like he was afraid, one of the elders suddenly stepped forward and loudly spoke up.